Film

‘Star Wars' Toy Sales Fall in 2017 as Movie-Tie Fatigue Sets In

Lackluster results likely to weigh on Disney, licensee Hasbro
Adult collectors still buying, but kids less interested: BMO

Figurines of Kylo Ren, center, and First Order Stormtroopers, characters from "Star Wars", are displayed at the Tomy Co. booth at the International Tokyo Toy Show in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, June 9, 2016. The toy show will run though June 12 at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center.Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

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By Matthew Townsend and Christopher Palmeri

January 17, 2018 at 11:07 PM EST

Updated on

January 18, 2018 at 12:29 PM EST

The warning signs for the toy industry started last year when “Cars 3” -- considered a surefire success -- proved lackluster for licensees like Mattel Inc.

Now, toymakers’ big bets on movie tie-ins look downright bleak. Playthings based on the “Star Wars” saga -- the franchise that kicked off the whole phenomenon four decades ago -- were down in 2017 despite a new film, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” in December during the all-important holiday-shopping season.

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